Mail box



G. C. OTT

MAIL BOX March 6, 1934.

Filed Feb. 16, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor greorc C. Offi- March 6, 1934. G c, QTTv 1,949,578

MAIL BOX Filed Feb. 16, 1935 3 sheets-sheet 2 Invenlor l- Georye C 02% iMarch s, 1934. G Q on 1,949,578

MAIL BOX Filed Feb. 16, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor George C 0% flzwwlih Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES FATE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a mail box which may be used in rural communities and elsewhere to receive mail matter delivered by a vpostman, and also to hold mail matter to be picked up by the postman.

The main object of my invention is to provide a mail box signal which is automatic in operation; that is, wherein, the flag or other signalling device is raised simultaneously with the opening of the lid of the mail box and remains in such position after the lid has been closed in order to indicate that there is mail within the box.

A still further very important object of the in- 'vention resides in the provision of a mail box of this nature which is simple in its construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable, thoroughly eificient and reliable in use and opera?) ation, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail box embodying the features of my invention showing the lid in open position.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof. Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the box taken substantially on the line ,3-3 of Figure 2 but showing the lid in closed position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a spring clip to be fastened to the top of the box.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cooperating clip to be fastened to the lid.

Figure 6 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a spring clip to be mounted on the side of the box, and s Figure 8 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a stop bracket. Figure 10 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 1010 of Figure 1, and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the signal. Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes a box the front end of which is open and has associated therewith a lid 6 hingedly connected to the box as at of the box to extend outwardly from the open end thereof and comprises a portion 8 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the box and from which extends portion 9 the intermediate part of which is bowed upwardly as at 10 and the portion 9 terminates in an upwardly disposed extension 11. A spring clip is fastened to the free end of the lid for cooperation with the first mentioned clip and comprises a portion 12 fixed to the lid and merging into a upwardly bowed portion 13 for cooperating with the part 10 and this portion 13 merges into an outwardly directed portion 14 at right angles to the portion 12 and terminating in a downwardly disposed extension 15. When the lid is in closed position it will be seen that the bowed portion 13 fits into the bowed portion 10 and the portion 14 underlies the outer part of the portion 9 with the extensions 11 and 15 in the same substantial vertical plane and letters to be mailed may be placed between these two spring clips so as to be collected by the postman without opening the box. To open the box, of course, it is only necessary for the postman to place a finger in engagement with the extension 15 and pull outwardly and the lid will swing down to an open position shown in Figure 1. When in this open position the lid will rest on a stop bracket which comprises a pair of bars 16 fastened longitudinally under the bottom of the box and the forward ends thereof merge into downwardly bowed portions 1'? to accommodate the hinges and these portions 1'? merge into an arcuate bowed portion 18.

The signal comprises an L-shaped shank formed with a long leg 19 and a relatively short leg 20 at a little more than right angles thereto. The shank is rockably mounted on a pin 21 fastened to the sides of the box adjacent the bottom corner thereof at the open end. This pin projects through an opening 22 at the juncture of the two legs 19 and 20. A fiat plate 23 is mounted on the outer end of the leg 19. A roller 24 is mounted on a pin extending laterally from the extremity of the relatively short leg 20 and is of the grooved type for engagement with one side head of the lid as shown to advantage in Figure 6. Thus when the lid is in closed position the signal is in a down position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Now when the lid is open the head thereof engages the roller and swings the signal to upright position shown in Figure 1 in which position it is held by a spring clip 26 fastened to the adjacent side of the box and provided intermediate its ends with a notch portion 27.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantages of this invention will front end open and a door .for closing saidopen end and hingedly connected with the box at its lower end, of a signal comprising an L-shaped shank including a long arm and a short arm, a pin projecting from one of the front lower corners of the box and passing through the shank at the junction of the short arm with the long arm, a flag on the extremity of the long arm, a laterally extending pin at the extremity of the short arm, a grooved roller on said pin and a rib on the door engaged by the groove in the roller, whereby the signal is raised to operative position when the door is opened and a spring latch attached to the box and engaging the long arm of the signal for holding said signal in raised position.

GEORGE C. OTT. 

